2020 Phoenix Area Course Conditions

[Argonne69]

Unfortunately my last round will likely be this Friday at Mountain Brook at 10 am. I believe there's an opening for another single if anyone wants to join.

I'll be heading home next week, taking a slow path through Tucson, Las Cruces, El Paso, Dallas, Little Rock, and probably Memphis. Hope I get some decent weather, as I plan to play a round each day on the way back.

[Justmuckit]

Damn. Can't play during the week, but I appreciate all you've done for this thread and the 2019 version.

[toypor]

Where are you planning to play in Tucson?

[Argonne69]

I was going to play La Paloma, given that it's on Golfweek's Best in State list, but it didn't seem to get much love in the Tucson thread. I may look at Sewailo. I've played Dove Mountain, Ventana Canyon, one of the Omni courses, and Arizona National. Any other suggestions? Del Lago?

[toypor]

It’s been a while since I have played much golf in Tucson. If you didn’t play the Catalina Course at Omni Tucson National that would be fun. Traditional, tree lined, and very walkable. The Champions Tour is there this weekend so it will be in great shape. Not sure when you are passing through though?

[Argonne69]

I played the Sonoran course. I also played at Vistoso.

I'll likely be in town next Thursday, so I assume the Catalina Course will have reopened for play.

[ferrispgm]

Catalina is actually a pretty good course...a couple wonky holes but overall pretty good. I caddied in a qualifier there a couple years ago and have been wanting to go back to play at some point.

[fore_life]

We need to do a Tucson wrx outing

[Argonne69]

A very nice morning at Las Colinas. I arrived an hour early hoping to get out on the course only to discover that there was an hour frost delay. Not only was I not getting a head start, I would be behind. Luckily a player in an earlier group was a no show, and I was able to tee off at roughly my orig time. Even with the delay, the pace was excellent, finishing in 3:50.

Fairly boring course tee to green, except for the 18th with the huge tree in the middle of the fairway. Lol. The available land is wide, but the fairways are actually quite narrow on many holes. I really enjoyed the green complexes. Multiple tiers and some tricky pin locations. Now, if they'd only get the green speeds up from 8 they'd be excellent. That, and they need to be rolled. Bumpy as an old dirt road.

Fairways were in decent shape. Off the fairways was a little beat up, but nothing compared to some of the dog tracks I've played. Bunkers were in poor shape, with mud in a few of them. I'll give it a 3.5.

[puttnforthe8]

Sewailo! Then some gambling. The some beer downtown!

[Argonne69]

Mountain Brook this morning, my 72nd round on my 72nd different course. Given that it's located in Gold Canyon, I was expecting more eye candy. Alas, it's just another ho hum housing development course. The views of the Superstition Mountains are great, but the course itself is forgettable. There were a few fun holes, but otherwise meh. Greens were benign, and it could use more fairway bunkers.

Conditions were mediocre. Fairways were very thin in spots. Rough was decent. Bunkers were wet compacted sand, with a few bordering on muddy. The greens had been punched with small tines. They were rolling at 9 to 10, but it was difficult to keep a ball on its line. I'd give it a 3.5.

[azgolfer44]

Aguila was in good shape today but what’s with the blasting radio pop music on the range and practice green? You could easily hear the a Taylor swift song followed by radio commercials on the 18th green. To me, it takes away from the experience and plus people just have headphones for their own music.

[Argonne69]

Last shot at glory. Flatiron was a real kick in the teeth. Toughest thing I've done. Worth it, though. Heading back home on Wednesday. Totally bummed.

Full pics: Flatiron

[fore_life]

Just stay here man

[BirdieRoll]

Had a recent round at McDowell Mountain. We were the second group out and played in 3:45.

Conditions were pretty good. Fairways and green rough were nice. Greens rolled pretty well and were of medium speed although most of them had a splotchy, unhealthy look to them.

Greens also had lots of unrepaired ball marks. The staff needs to do more to fix them and players need to take the time to fix them. Good grief.

Also, this year they have changed from a pin position of 1, 2, or 3 (as shown on their current scorecard) to a red-white-blue flag format and the format was not the same throughout the round as we had more red/front flags including on back to back holes. (Nothing wrong with that, just fyi).

[Argonne69]

It's been a slice. Great weather. Ton of golf. A few dogs, but for the most part it was more than acceptable. Given that I was budget minded, I didn't expect top end courses. I have to be honest, you don't get much here for your money in the winter. I don't think this is a big surprise to anyone here. I'd like to spend some time here in the summer to see how the high end courses price themselves.

Back in Chicago we have 20 to 30 very nice courses that will set you back less than $80 in the peak season. A large number of playable munis are available for under $60. Two premium courses are $155 and $250, and there are half a dozen courses a notch down that run $100 to $120. That's for a weekend morning round. Play midweek and/or weekend afternoons and you can save a bunch.

Being an older golfing town, Chicago has nowhere near as many courses built in housing developments. Offhand I'd say less than 20 out of 175+. The vast majority of courses here seem to be routed through a housing complex. That's not inherently bad, but it sure does seem to limit the topography for the most part.

Anyway, thanks for the input and feedback. Glad I got a chance to tee it up with a few of you. It's likely I'll be back for a few weeks next winter, but not a full winter.

 

[OspreyCI]

@Argonne69 Sure enjoyed all your reviews. I will miss reading about courses I will never probably play here. Wish I could have played a round while you here. Come back in the summer when you can play any premium course for $50. That’s when good gets serious for me. I can afford to play way more often and the places I could never afford in the winter here.
Appreciate the posts and the pics. Safe travels man.

[tw422]

Loved the reviews and pictures. Really enjoyed the documentation/reviews of your trip to AZ. Have a safe trip back.

[Argonne69]

Not sure if the group considers Apache Stronghold a local course, but if you're interested in my take you can read the review here:

Simply awful conditions, but for $40 it's a world better than Tres Rios. Lol.

[fore_life]

I feel like so many of the turf issues at Apache could be remedied by a little common sense and TLC. I’d love to get my hands dirty and make a list of things to do up there to make it better, it’s a shame is always on the cusp of greatness/total goat track

[puttnforthe8]

What's stopping you? :) Go align with the course and the tribe, Start a Crowdfund effort, gets some marketing (stay n play, events) once ready. Make it happen!

p.s. I'll help with the bunkers and the alcohol for the 19th!

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Encanto today great firm and fast conditions. Poor pace

[fore_life]

Honestly I guess it seems like a pipe dream haha but I would totally do it if I had time, 3 kids are a lot of work!

[AzSuperHack76]

Falcon Dunes was in great shape today. 2 large groups out there for tourneys today, still got around in 4:10 in tournament play!

 

Haven't played there since November, it had a rough overseed and it was in terrible condition, but man it sure has recovered and in really good shape.

[Justmuckit]

Moved out here two months ago, and just can't used to the tight, firm turf with my wedges. Short game used to be the highlight of my game, but I'm on the struggle bus.

[Bonneville85308]

I had the same trouble when I moved out here. After a few months I switched out my wedges for low-bounce models and it seemed to help. Where I used to live, greenside turf was usually thick, deep rough, and fairways were usually damp and plush. The high-bounce wedges I hit great there produced very different results on the AZ turf. Also, in the old location my highest lofted wedge was usually 57-58 degrees, in AZ I now play a 60 or 62. Seems to help stop the ball better on pitch shots around firm greens.

[avguy]

My 58 wedges are now all 4 deg. bounce. This also helps when golf budget guy (me!) has to play courses where they forget to put enough good sand in the bunkers.

That harder, crusty dirt is a no-go zone for a high bounce wedge which can skip off hard pack dirt and skull the leading edge into a sand-trapped ball.

We are much firmer aprons here up to the greens, indeed.

[AzSuperHack76]

WigWam Gold is in decent shape, fairways are perfect. Rough is actual real rough, overseeded winter grass, nice to see and a challenge for sure. A few greens have some patchy/repair spots but overall the course is in good shape. Tee'd off at 1 and finished in 3 hours and 45 minutes. Lots of good sticks out there right now, the Red course is hosting a female collegiate event and I'm guessing the Gold is hosting an upcoming event as well. There were school bags everywhere and some pretty impressive swings, it was fun to watch.

[MackDaddy480]

The Gold course is hosting the PGA Tour Canada Q School in a few weeks. I will be out there caddying for a buddy. How long was the rough out there?

[AzSuperHack76]

Hey AJ! It's pretty thick right now, 2-3 inches. If they grow it out even more for the qualifier it's going to be extremely tough. It really affected the ball yesterday, can't imagine how it will be if they decide to let it go even more.